Between 1920 and 1940 there are few available charts (at least that
we can find), hence these results should be treated with caution
since, with few exceptions, they are based on fairly subjective charts.
During this era music was dominated by a number of "Big Bands" and songs could be
attributed to the band leader, the band name, the lead singer or a combination of the them. It is
common, for example, to see the same song listed with three different artists. And, just to stop
us from getting bored, the success of a song was tied to the sales of sheet music, so a
popular song would often be perfomed by many different combinations of singers and bands
and the contemporary charts would list the song, without clarifying whose version was the
major hit. Where we have found such issues we have attempted to consolidate the entries
using the most widely accepted value for the artist in each case.
| # |
Artist |
Song Title |
Year |
Chart Entries |
| 1 |
Francis Craig |
Near You |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Aug 1947 (25 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Sep 1947 (21 weeks), US 1 for 12 weeks - Sep 1947, DZE 1 of 1947, US BB 6 of 1947, POP 14 of 1947, Brazil 24 of 1947, Europe 85 of the 1940s (1947), RIAA 355 |
| 2 |
Jerry Murad's Harmonicats |
Peg o' My Heart |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Apr 1947 (26 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Apr 1947 (21 weeks), US 1 for 4 weeks - Jun 1947, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1947), DZE 4 of 1947, Brazil 11 of 1947, POP 17 of 1947, RYM 55 of 1947 |
| 3 |
Perry Como |
Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep) |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - May 1947 (13 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jun 1947 (12 weeks), US 1 for 3 weeks - Jun 1947, Australia 1 for 1 month - May 1948, DZE 7 of 1947, US BB 13 of 1947, POP 21 of 1947, Brazil 80 of 1948 |
| 4 |
Vaughn Monroe |
Ballerina |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Nov 1947 (22 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Nov 1947 (21 weeks), US 1 for 10 weeks - Dec 1947, DZE 3 of 1947, US BB 7 of 1947, POP 7 of 1947, Brazil 14 of 1947, Europe 56 of the 1940s (1947) |
| 5 |
Ted Weems |
Heartaches |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Mar 1947 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Mar 1947 (16 weeks), US 1 for 12 weeks - Mar 1947, DZE 2 of 1947, US BB 11 of 1947, POP 20 of 1947, Brazil 29 of 1947 |
| 6 |
Tex Williams & The Western Caravan |
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Jul 1947 (17 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jul 1947 (12 weeks), US 1 for 6 weeks - Aug 1947, DZE 5 of 1947, US BB 17 of 1947, POP 19 of 1947, Brazil 20 of 1949 |
| 7 |
Art Lund |
Mam'selle |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Apr 1947 (13 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Apr 1947 (11 weeks), US 1 for 2 weeks - Jun 1947, DZE 8 of 1947, POP 12 of 1947, Brazil 28 of 1947 |
| 8 |
Count Basie |
Open The Door, Richard! |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Feb 1947 (7 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Feb 1947 (4 weeks), US 1 for 1 week - Feb 1947, US BB 14 of 1947, POP 23 of 1947, Brazil 83 of 1947 |
| 9 |
Frank Sinatra |
Mam'selle |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - May 1947 (10 weeks), Australia 1 for 1 month - Oct 1947, US 1940s 6 - May 1947 (4 weeks), US BB 12 of 1947, POP 12 of 1947, Brazil 30 of 1947, RYM 50 of 1947 |
| 10 |
Freddy Martin |
Managua, Nicaragua |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Jan 1947 (13 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Feb 1947 (11 weeks), US 1 for 2 weeks - Mar 1947, DZE 6 of 1947, Brazil 48 of 1947 |
| 11 |
James Baskett |
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah |
1947 |
US BB 1 of 1947, Oscar in 1947 (film 'Song of the South'), POP 1 of 1947, AFI 47 |
| 12 |
Arthur Godfrey |
Too Fat Polka (I Don't Want Her-You Can Have Her-She's Too Fat For Me) |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Nov 1947 (18 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Nov 1947 (16 weeks), US BB 2 of 1947, POP 3 of 1947, Brazil 86 of 1948, Europe 98 of the 1940s (1947) |
| 13 |
Ray Noble |
Linda |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Feb 1947 (23 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Mar 1947 (13 weeks), US BB 9 of 1947, DZE 9 of 1947, POP 16 of 1947, Brazil 63 of 1947 |
| 14 |
Frankie Laine |
That's My Desire |
1947 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1947), US Billboard 4 - Mar 1947 (26 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Jul 1947 (4 weeks), RYM 40 of 1946, Europe 43 of the 1940s (1947), Brazil 89 of 1948 |
| 15 |
Woody Guthrie |
This Land is Your Land |
1947 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 1989 (1947), RYM 2 of 1947, RIAA 3, Acclaimed 204 (1947), WXPN 258 |
| 16 |
Buddy Clark |
Peg o' My Heart |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Jun 1947 (15 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Jul 1947 (7 weeks), US BB 10 of 1947, POP 17 of 1947, Brazil 32 of 1947 |
| 17 |
Guy Lombardo |
Managua, Nicaragua |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Jan 1947 (15 weeks), US BB 3 of 1947, US 1940s 4 - Feb 1947 (9 weeks), POP 8 of 1947 |
| 18 |
Red Ingle & The Natural Seven |
Temptation (Tim-Tayshun) |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Jun 1947 (15 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Jun 1947 (13 weeks), US BB 15 of 1947, POP 15 of 1947 |
| 19 |
Roy Acuff |
Wabash Cannonball |
1947 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1947), US Billboard 12 - 1938 (2 weeks), RYM 35 of 1947, RIAA 137, Acclaimed 576 (1947), Global 7 (10 M sold) - 1942 |
| 20 |
Dinah Shore |
Anniversary Song |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Mar 1947 (12 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Mar 1947 (8 weeks), US BB 5 of 1947, POP 6 of 1947 |
| 21 |
Dick Haymes |
Mam'selle |
1947 |
Australia 1 for 1 month - Oct 1947, US Billboard 3 - May 1947 (11 weeks), US 1940s 4 - May 1947 (8 weeks), Brazil 65 of 1948 |
| 22 |
Al Jolson & Bing Crosby |
Anniversary Song |
1947 |
Australia 1 for 5 months - Sep 1947, US Billboard 2 - Feb 1947 (14 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Feb 1947 (14 weeks) |
| 23 |
Perry Como |
When You Were Sweet Sixteen |
1947 |
Australia 1 for 1 month - Dec 1948, US Billboard 2 - Jul 1947 (19 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Aug 1947 (12 weeks) |
| 24 |
Sammy Kaye |
Serenade Of The Bells |
1947 |
Australia 1 for 1 month - Sep 1948, US Billboard 3 - Nov 1947 (16 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Nov 1947 (15 weeks) |
| 25 |
Peggy Lee |
Golden Earrings |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Nov 1947 (18 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Nov 1947 (16 weeks), Brazil 40 of 1949, Europe 78 of the 1940s (1948) |
| 26 |
The Three Suns |
Peg o' My Heart |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Jun 1947 (19 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Jun 1947 (16 weeks), Brazil 27 of 1948 |
| 27 |
Jack McVea & His Band |
Open The Door, Richard! |
1947 |
Peel list 1 of 1946, US Billboard 3 - Jan 1947 (9 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Feb 1947 (2 weeks) |
| 28 |
The Three Flames |
Open The Door, Richard! |
1947 |
US Billboard 1 - Feb 1947 (8 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Feb 1947 (3 weeks), POP 23 of 1947 |
| 29 |
Dizzy Gillespie |
Manteca |
1947 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1947), RYM 62 of 1947, Acclaimed 772 (1947) |
| 30 |
Bing Crosby |
The Whiffenpoof Song |
1947 |
US Billboard 7 - Nov 1947 (7 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Nov 1947 (7 weeks), US BB 8 of 1947, POP 13 of 1947 |
| 31 |
Louis Jordan |
Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens |
1947 |
RYM 2 of 1946, POP 5 of 1947, US Billboard 6 - Jan 1947 (6 weeks) |
| 32 |
The Andrews Sisters |
Near You |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Sep 1947 (17 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Oct 1947 (10 weeks), Brazil 85 of 1948 |
| 33 |
The Andrews Sisters & Danny Kaye |
Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo) |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - Nov 1947 (11 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Nov 1947 (10 weeks), Brazil 54 of 1948 |
| 34 |
Dusty Fletcher |
Open The Door, Richard! |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - Feb 1947 (7 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Feb 1947 (5 weeks), Europe 94 of the 1940s (1947) |
| 35 |
Dinah Shore |
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Jan 1947 (16 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Jan 1947 (4 weeks), RYM 97 of 1946 |
| 36 |
Frank Sinatra |
Time After Time |
1947 |
US Billboard 16 - May 1947 (5 weeks), Brazil 65 of 1947, RYM 125 of 1959, WXPN 778 |
| 37 |
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters |
There's No Business Like Show Business |
1947 |
Australia 1 for 1 month - Nov 1947, US Billboard 25 - Jul 1947 (1 week) |
| 38 |
Vaughn Monroe |
I Wish I Didn't Love You So |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Sep 1947 (15 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Sep 1947 (15 weeks) |
| 39 |
Louis Jordan |
Open The Door, Richard! |
1947 |
US Billboard 6 - Mar 1947 (4 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Mar 1947 (2 weeks), RYM 11 of 1947 |
| 40 |
Jo Stafford |
Serenade Of The Bells |
1947 |
US Billboard 6 - Dec 1947 (11 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Dec 1947 (9 weeks), Brazil 95 of 1948 |
| 41 |
Eddy Howard |
I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - May 1947 (19 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jun 1947 (13 weeks) |
| 42 |
Sammy Kaye |
That's My Desire |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - May 1947 (22 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jun 1947 (17 weeks) |
| 43 |
Perry Como |
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Aug 1947 (17 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Oct 1947 (4 weeks) |
| 44 |
Gene Autry |
Here Comes Santa Claus |
1947 |
US Billboard 8 - Dec 1948 (5 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Dec 1947 (7 weeks), RYM 15 of 1947 |
| 45 |
Louis Prima |
Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo) |
1947 |
US Billboard 8 - Oct 1947 (8 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Nov 1947 (7 weeks), Brazil 78 of 1948 |
| 46 |
The Mills Brothers |
Across The Alley From The Alamo |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - May 1947 (15 weeks), US 1940s 4 - May 1947 (9 weeks) |
| 47 |
Eddy Howard |
My Adobe Hacienda |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Apr 1947 (15 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Apr 1947 (11 weeks) |
| 48 |
Guy Lombardo |
Anniversary Song |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Feb 1947 (13 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Feb 1947 (10 weeks) |
| 49 |
Jack Owens |
How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You) |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Sep 1947 (20 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Nov 1947 (14 weeks) |
| 50 |
Dick Haymes |
I Wish I Didn't Love You So |
1947 |
US Billboard 9 - Oct 1947 (8 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Nov 1947 (4 weeks), Brazil 96 of 1948 |
| 51 |
Dick Haymes |
How Are Things In Glocca Morra |
1947 |
US Billboard 9 - Mar 1947 (5 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Mar 1947 (1 week), Brazil 100 of 1947 |
| 52 |
Louis Jordan |
Boogie Woogie Blue Plate |
1947 |
POP 9 of 1947, US Billboard 21 - Sep 1947 (1 week), RYM 28 of 1947 |
| 53 |
The Charioteers |
Open The Door, Richard! |
1947 |
US Billboard 6 - Mar 1947 (3 weeks), Brazil 86 of 1947, RYM 93 of 1947 |
| 54 |
Tex Beneke |
Anniversary Song |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - Feb 1947 (11 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Mar 1947 (8 weeks) |
| 55 |
Larry Green & His Orchestra |
Near You |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - Oct 1947 (13 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Oct 1947 (13 weeks) |
| 56 |
Louis Jordan |
Texas & Pacific |
1947 |
US Billboard 20 - Mar 1947 (3 weeks), POP 24 of 1947, RYM 29 of 1947 |
| 57 |
Dinah Shore |
I Wish I Didn't Love You So |
1947 |
US Billboard 2 - Oct 1947 (12 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Oct 1947 (4 weeks) |
| 58 |
Vaughn Monroe |
How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You) |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - Nov 1947 (13 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Nov 1947 (13 weeks) |
| 59 |
Marisa Fiordaliso |
El rancho grande |
1947 |
Italy 1 of 1947 |
| 60 |
Dorothy Shay |
Feudin' & Fightin' |
1947 |
US Billboard 4 - Jul 1947 (11 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Sep 1947 (11 weeks) |
| 61 |
Lester Young |
Junpin' With Symphony |
1947 |
Peel list 1 of 1947 |
| 62 |
Hank Williams |
Move It On Over |
1947 |
RYM 1 of 1947 |
| 63 |
Hank Williams |
(Last Night) I Heard You Cryin' in Your Sleep |
1947 |
RYM 1 of 1947 |
| 64 |
Dick Farney |
Copacabana |
1947 |
Brazil 1 of 1947 |
| 65 |
Guy Lombardo |
I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - May 1947 (17 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Jun 1947 (7 weeks) |
| 66 |
Andy Russell |
Anniversary Song |
1947 |
US Billboard 4 - Mar 1947 (10 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Mar 1947 (2 weeks) |
| 67 |
The Pied Pipers |
Mam'selle |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - May 1947 (11 weeks), US 1940s 9 - May 1947 (4 weeks) |
| 68 |
Alveno Rey |
Near You |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - Sep 1947 (14 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Oct 1947 (1 week) |
| 69 |
Charles Trenet |
La Mer (Beyond the Sea) |
1947 |
Italy 3 of 1948, France (Historical) 10 of the 1940s (1947) |
| 70 |
Ted Weems |
Mickey |
1947 |
US Billboard 3 - Oct 1947 (11 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Nov 1947 (1 week) |
| 71 |
Art Lund |
Peg o' My Heart |
1947 |
US Billboard 4 - Jun 1947 (13 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Jun 1947 (10 weeks) |
| 72 |
Harry James |
Heartaches |
1947 |
US Billboard 4 - Apr 1947 (9 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Apr 1947 (3 weeks) |
| 73 |
Sammy Kaye |
An Apple Blossom Wedding |
1947 |
US Billboard 5 - Oct 1947 (5 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Oct 1947 (3 weeks) |
| 74 |
Betty Hutton |
I Wish I Didn't Love You So |
1947 |
US Billboard 5 - Sep 1947 (12 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Oct 1947 (4 weeks) |
| 75 |
Charlie Spivak |
Linda |
1947 |
US Billboard 5 - Mar 1947 (11 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Apr 1947 (9 weeks) |
| 76 |
Elliot Lawrence |
Near You |
1947 |
US Billboard 4 - Oct 1947 (14 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Oct 1947 (2 weeks) |
| 77 |
Roy Brown |
Good Rockin' Tonight |
1947 |
RYM 3 of 1947, DDD 75 of 1951 |
| 78 |
Charlie Spivak |
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons |
1947 |
US Billboard 5 - Dec 1947 (14 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Jan 1947 (4 weeks) |
| 79 |
Vaughn Monroe |
You Do |
1947 |
US Billboard 5 - Nov 1947 (8 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Nov 1947 (8 weeks) |
| 80 |
Margaret Whiting |
You Do |
1947 |
US Billboard 5 - Nov 1947 (10 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Nov 1947 (6 weeks) |